Teaching Innovation-active learning

Active learning strategies ask students to fully participate in their learning by thinking, discussing, investigating, and creating. In active learning classrooms, students may be asked to practice skills, solve problems, struggle with complex questions, propose solutions, and explain ideas in their own words through writing and discussion. Research indicates that active learning methods are especially effective for student learning, when compared to classes that primarily consist of lecturing.

Why Use Active Learning?

Active learning:

Reinforces important material, concepts, and skills.
Provides more frequent and immediate feedback to students.
Provides students with an opportunity to think about, talk about, and process course material.
Creates personal connections to the material for students, which increases their motivation to learn.
Allows students to practice important skills, such as wireless collaboration, through pair and group work.

Builds self-esteem through conversations with other students.
Creates a sense of community in the classroom through increased student-student and instructor-student interaction.

Considerations for Using Active Learning Methods